Members of Russellville’s police and fire departments helped celebrate Father’s Day on Friday at MiChild Enrichment Center’s first annual Adopt a Dad Day.

The new program — a collaborative effort between parent Kara Cobb, directors for the childcare center and local police officers and firefighters — was established to promote positive male role models for all children, especially those enrolled at MiChild without a father present in their young lives. Each year the center honors dads at a special breakfast where fathers visit the center with their children and are presented homemade and heartfelt thank-you gifts from the kids.

Cobb, whose son Caden will be 3 next month, wanted to find a way for her son to have a “dad” for the day, since his own father was unable to attend the past two years.

“Caden was the only little kid in his class the first year without a dad,” Cobb said. “It just broke my heart. Last year, again, he was alone. I started thinking to myself about the other children with absentee dads and wanted to do something for them also. I mean this is not how a child should be treated.”

Cobb continued thinking about her son’s Father’s Day dilemma throughout the year until she finally formulated a plan to help Caden and the other children in the same situation at MiChild.

She contacted retiring RPD Chief Tom McMillen to inquire about the possibility of adopting Caden for the day and possibly bringing some additional officers to the program for other children.

“The chief is such a great guy, I thought I’d reach out to him,” Cobb said of her Adopt a Dad idea. “I explained the situation and he said he would be honored. He even rearranged the closing of his house to attend. It really makes you feel good to know there are people out there that care so much about the community.”

McMillen said he wanted himself and the other officers to be part of the new program to help fulfill the hopes and wishes of children without father figures in their lives.

Caden presented McMillen with a paper cut-out of a police officer Caden colored, and McMillen presented Caden with a special challenge coin from the RPD. Children visited with the officers, toured the police car and fire trucks and received sticker badges so they too could be officers for the day.

Angela Traweek, vice president of pediatrics for Friendship Community Care, said the new program affords the opportunity for all children, not just those without father figures, to learn more about the different service roles police officers and firefighters have in the community.

“Obviously this is an amazing opportunity for all of our children to feel extra special on Father’s Day,” Traweek said. “But it is also a great partnership for different community organizations to come together for a common goal — supporting our children. The kids always make special gifts to present to their dads during the breakfast and this year classes made gifts for the police officers and firefighters too.”

The police officers and firemen thanked the children for the gifts of paper police officers and firemen, shields and decorated signs. One sign said “you rock” and had rocks with googlely eyes glued to the poster.

RFD driver Brad Barnhouse said participating in the event was special for all the firefighters because they understand how important the relationship between dads and their children are.

“Its always great when we get to be part of something benefiting not just the community, but kids especially,” Barnhouse said. “We are glad to come and spend time with the kids, and at the same time share a little about fire safety.”

Cobb and Traweek both said this would be an annual event and hope to expand the “adopt someone for a day program” to include Mother’s Day and Grandparent’s Day. Cobb said while it was her son’s need that sparked the idea, she hopes it will reach other learning centers in the area and throughout the state.

“My dad was a great role model for me and very involved in my life,” Cobb said. “I want that same bond for my son and other children. A positive male role model can be anyone, it doesn’t have to be the actual dad. So many children today don’t have strong parental role models, male or female. I hope this program helps combat that issue in our area.”